Persistent symptoms and decreased health-related quality of life after symptomatic pediatric COVID-19: A prospective study in a Latin American tertiary hospital

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate demographic, anthropometric and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) METHODS: This was a longitudinal observational study of surviving pediatric post-COVID-19 patients (n=53) and pediatric subjects without laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 included as controls (n=52) was performed. RESULTS: The median duration between COVID-19 diagnosis (n=53) and follow-up was 4.4 months (0.8-10.7). Twenty-three of 53 (43%) patients reported at least one persistent symptom at the longitudinal follow-up visit and 12/53 (23%) had long COVID-19, with at least one symptom lasting for >12 weeks. The most frequently reported symptoms at the longitudinal follow-up visit were headache (19%), severe recurrent headache (9%), tiredness (9%), dyspnea (8%), and concentration difficulty (4%). At the longitudinal follow-up visit, the frequencies of anemia (11% versus 0%, p=0.030), lymphopenia (42% versus 18%, p=0.020), C-reactive protein level of >30 mg/L (35% versus 0%, p=0.0001), and D-dimer level of >1000 ng/mL (43% versus 6%, p=0.0004) significantly reduced compared with baseline values. Chest X-ray abnormalities (11% versus 2%, p=0.178) and cardiac alterations on echocardiogram (33% versus 22%, p=0.462) were similar at both visits. Comparison of characteristic data between patients with COVID-19 at the longitudinal follow-up visit and controls showed similar age (p=0.962), proportion of male sex (p=0.907), ethnicity (p=0.566), family minimum monthly wage (p=0.664), body mass index (p=0.601), and pediatric pre-existing chronic conditions (p=1.000). The Pediatric Quality of Live Inventory 4.0 scores, median physical score (69 [0-100] versus 81 [34-100], p=0.012), and school score (60 [15-100] versus 70 [15-95], p=0.028) were significantly lower in pediatric patients with COVID-19 at the longitudinal follow-up visit than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with COVID-19 showed a longitudinal impact on HRQoL parameters, particularly in physical/school domains, reinforcing the need for a prospective multidisciplinary approach for these patients. These data highlight the importance of closer monitoring of children and adolescents by the clinical team after COVID-19.

Latent and Overt Polyautoimmunity in Children and Adolescents With Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Autoantibodies are biomarkers for autoimmune disease diagnosis, monitoring, and prediction. Therefore, this study established the frequency of latent and overt polyautoimmunity in children and adolescents with >6 months of diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Forty-seven patients with chronic or persistent disease had non-organ-specific and organ-specific autoantibodies assessed. Frequency of latent polyautoimmunity was 36.2%, and, of overt polyautoimmunity, it was 4.3%. Of ITP patients with latent polyautoimmunity, 52.9% were positive for antinuclear antibody (ANA), 47.1% for autoantibodies other than ANA, and 64.7% for multiple autoantibodies. In addition, patients with latent polyautoimmunity and those positive for ANA were significantly older at disease onset. Both ITP patients positive and negative for autoantibodies reported family members with autoimmune diseases. The autoantibodies observed were as follows: ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-SSA/Ro, IgM aCL, anti-GAD, anti-IA2, anti-IAA, anti-TG, anti-TPO, anti-LKM1, and SMA. Of ITP patients with overt polyautoimmunity, 1 was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus and the other with thyroiditis. In conclusion, children and adolescents with ITP present high frequency of latent and overt polyautoimmunity even for autoantibodies other than ANA. Therefore, ANA and other non-organ-specific and organ-specific autoantibodies should be considered for assessment during ITP patients' follow-up.

Impact of prophylaxis on health-related quality of life of boys with hemophilia: An analysis of pooled data from 9 countries.

BACKGROUND: Prophylaxis reduces the frequency of bleeds in boys with severe hemophilia and is the standard care for their management in resource-abundant countries. The effect of prophylaxis on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has not been established, because the sample sizes of most studies are too small to explore the relationship of multiple factors that influence HRQoL. METHODS: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of hemophilia severity and treatment regimen on HRQoL and to establish the minimum important difference (MID) using the international level of score distributions. HRQoL data were pooled from 7 studies across 9 countries. HRQoL was measured using the Canadian Hemophilia Outcomes-Kids' Life Assessment Tool (CHO-KLAT). A mixed-effect linear regression analysis was employed to assess the impact of prophylaxis on the CHO-KLAT score. RESULTS: Data from 401 boys with hemophilia were analyzed (57.6% severe hemophilia and 57.6% receiving prophylaxis). The model revealed that receiving prophylaxis was significantly associated with higher HRQoL (regression coefficient 8.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.9-13.1). Boys with severe hemophilia had a significantly lower HRQoL as compared to boys with moderate and mild hemophilia whose CHO-KLAT scores were 7.0 and 6.6 points higher, respectively. There was a significant interaction between treatment and disease severity (P = 0.023), indicating prophylaxis has the most significant impact in boys with severe hemophilia. Based on these pooled data, the MID of the CHO-KLAT was established at 6.5. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the positive effect of prophylaxis on HRQoL in boys with hemophilia in a real-world setting and provides initial benchmarks for interpreting HRQoL scores based on use of the CHO-KLAT instrument.

Characterization of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase mutations that cause bleeding and nonbleeding disorders.

Vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors deficiency is a bleeding disorder mainly associated with mutations in γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) that often has fatal outcomes. Some patients with nonbleeding syndromes linked to GGCX mutations, however, show no coagulation abnormalities. The correlation between GGCX genotypes and their clinical phenotypes has been previously unknown. Here we report the identification and characterization of novel GGCX mutations in a patient with both severe cerebral bleeding disorder and comorbid Keutel syndrome, a nonbleeding malady caused by functional defects of matrix γ-carboxyglutamate protein (MGP). To characterize GGCX mutants in a cellular milieu, we established a cell-based assay by stably expressing 2 reporter proteins (a chimeric coagulation factor and MGP) in HEK293 cells. The endogenous GGCX gene in these cells was knocked out by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing. Our results show that, compared with wild-type GGCX, the patient's GGCX D153G mutant significantly decreased coagulation factor carboxylation and abolished MGP carboxylation at the physiological concentration of vitamin K. Higher vitamin K concentrations can restore up to 60% of coagulation factor carboxylation but do not ameliorate MGP carboxylation. These results are consistent with the clinical results obtained from the patient treated with vitamin K, suggesting that the D153G alteration in GGCX is the causative mutation for both the bleeding and nonbleeding disorders in our patient. These findings provide the first evidence of a GGCX mutation resulting in 2 distinct clinical phenotypes; the established cell-based assay provides a powerful tool for studying the clinical consequences of naturally occurring GGCX mutations in vivo.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura at presentation of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and life-threatening hematological abnormality characterized by thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, with neurological abnormalities and/or renal disease. TTP has been rarely reported in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) patients and, to our knowledge, its prevalence in a paediatric lupus population has not been studied. Therefore, from January 1983 to December 2010, we reviewed the charts of 5,508 patients followed-up at the Paediatric Rheumatology Unit of our university hospital. We identified 279 (5.1%) JSLE cases that met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. Two (0.7%) of them had TTP, both at JSLE onset, and were described herein. Both patients had fever, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (with schistocytes in blood smears), and thrombocytopenia. The male patient had hemiparesis and proteinuria and the female patient had persistent headache and hematuria. Both were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and courses of plasma exchange therapy at TTP diagnosis. After treatment, TTP did not recur and their hematocrit, platelet count, and lactic dehydrogenase remained normal. In conclusion, TTP is a rare and severe manifestation at JSLE onset. The case reports reinforce the importance of early diagnosis and early aggressive treatment for patients with TTP, due to its high morbidity.

Púrpura trombocitopênica trombótica na apresentação de pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil / Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura at presentation of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Púrpura trombocitopênica trombótica (PTT) é uma alteração hematológica rara e com risco de morte, caracterizada por trombocitopenia, anemia hemolítica microangiopática e alterações neurológicas e/ou renais. A PTT foi descrita em raros pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil (LESJ) e, até onde se sabe, a prevalência dessa manifestação em uma população de lúpus pediátrico ainda não foi estudada. Assim, entre janeiro de 1983 e dezembro de 2010, revisamos os prontuários de 5.508 pacientes acompanhados na Unidade de Reumatologia Pediátrica do nosso hospital universitário. Foram identificados 279 (5,1%) casos de LESJ que preencheram os critérios de classificação do American College of Rheumatology. Dois destes (0,7%) apresentavam PTT, ambos no início do LESJ, e foram aqui descritos. Os dois pacientes tinham febre, anemia hemolítica microangiopática (com esquizócitos no sangue periférico) e trombocitopenia. O paciente do gênero masculino apresentava hemiparesia e proteinúria, e a paciente do gênero feminino tinha cefaleia persistente e hematúria. Ambos foram tratados com metilprednisolona endovenosa e plasmaferese quando do diagnóstico de PPT. Após tratamento, não houve recidiva da PTT, e hematócritos, contagens de plaquetas e níveis de desidrogenase lática permaneceram normais. Em conclusão, a PTT é uma rara e grave manifestação no início do LESJ. Os casos relatados reforçam a importância de um diagnóstico precoce e de uma terapia agressiva em pacientes com PTT, devido à sua alta morbidade.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and life-threatening hematological abnormality characterized by thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, with neurological abnormalities and/or renal disease. TTP has been rarely reported in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) patients and, to our knowledge, its prevalence in a paediatric lupus population has not been studied. Therefore, from January 1983 to December 2010, we reviewed the charts of 5,508 patients followed-up at the Paediatric Rheumatology Unit of our university hospital. We identified 279 (5.1%) JSLE cases that met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. Two (0.7%) of them had TTP, both at JSLE onset, and were described herein. Both patients had fever, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (with schistocytes in blood smears), and thrombocytopenia. The male patient had hemiparesis and proteinuria and the female patient had persistent headache and hematuria. Both were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and courses of plasma exchange therapy at TTP diagnosis. After treatment, TTP did not recur and their hematocrit, platelet count, and lactic dehydrogenase remained normal. In conclusion, TTP is a rare and severe manifestation at JSLE onset. The case reports reinforce the importance of early diagnosis and early aggressive treatment for patients with TTP, due to its high morbidity.

Aplasia medular após transplante hepático em pediatria / Aplastic anemia after pediatric liver transplantation

A aplasia de medula é uma das mais raras (<1 por cento) e sérias complicações após o transplante hepático por insuficiência hepática aguda grave viral não A, não B e não C. Esta condição clínica, que acomete simultaneamente o tecido hepático e o hematopoético, foi descrita pela primeira vez em 1987, por Stock, e a fisiopatologia relacionada é uma condição imunomediada, provavelmente secundária à infecção viral desconhecida, e associada a grave prognóstico. A recuperação espontânea da aplasia medular adquirida habitualmente é muito rara e 50 por cento-70 por cento dos pacientes respondem ao tratamento imunossupressor com ciclosporina A (CsA) e glubulina antitimocítica (ATG), mesmo após o transplante hepático. Além do tratamento imunossupressor, outra opção é o transplante de medula óssea (TMO). Apresentamos o caso de uma criança com aplasia medular grave após transplante hepático, por insuficiência hepática aguda grave, que recebeu tratamento imunossupressor com CsA e ATG e evoluiu com recuperação completa das três séries do hemograma.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is one of the rarest (<1 percent) and most serious complications of liver transplantation for fulminant non-A, non-B and non-C hepatitis. It was first described in 1987 by Stock; the mechanism involved is an immunologically mediated condition secondary to an unknown viral infection. The disease is associated with a dismal prognosis. Spontaneous recovery from acquired AA is very rare however some patients (50-70 percent) recover after immunosuppressive therapy, such as Cyclosporin A (CsA) and Antithymocyte globulin (ATG), even after liver transplantation. Another treatment option is bone marrow transplantation. We report on a child who developed AA following liver transplantation for fulminant viral hepatitis that was treated with intensive immunosuppression including CsA and ATG and achieved complete recovery.

Hypopituitarism, deficiency of factors V and VIII and von Willebrand factor: an uncommon association.

A 9 year-old boy with hypopituitarism and blood coagulation abnormalities is presented and discussed. The association between acquired von Willebrand disease and hypothyroidism has been reported but the combination of hypopituitarism and coagulopathy is unusual. Combined multiple clotting deficiencies are rare and, when present, factors V and VIII is the commonest association. Although it is known that hypothyroid patients may have a decrease in von Willebrand's factor (vWf) and factor VIII, there are no reports of hypopituitarism associated with combined deficiency of factors V, VIII, and vWf.

Anomalia de Pelger-Huet ou hipossegmentacao de leucocitos: relato de quatro casos / Pelger-Huet anomaly: report of four cases

Os autores apresentam quatro individuos com a anomalia de Pelger-Huet, em duas familias. Dois dos pacientes foram encaminhados para diagnostico de infeccao devido a interpretacao erronea de hemograma. Os outros dois eram parentes de um dos casos-indices. Os autores enfatizam a importancia do diagnostico da anomalia para nao se incorrer em condutas diagnosticas e terapeuticas desnecessarias